Wagner talking his way out of New York
Posted: Fri May 16 4:23 PM
By Michael Rushton, MLB Contributing Editor
New York Mets Team Report
(Sports Network) - No matter how much you hope, or how nice you ask him, New York Mets closer Billy Wagner is not going to stop speaking his mind.
The Mets repeatedly pay witness to this as Wagner continues his third year with the club. The question now is, how much longer can the closer's talent keep him from talking his way out of town?
Not one to keep his cards close to his chest, Wagner already made waves once this season when he openly questioned Oliver Perez's heart after the left- handed starter was rocked in an outing against the Pirates back in late April.
"Perez has honestly got to step up and know that we've just used every guy in our bullpen the night before," Wagner told the New York Daily News. "He can't come out there and decide that gee, he hasn't got it today, and so be it.
"When you have games like this, it's very easy to say, 'Hey, yeah, you're going to have these games.' And you will have these games. But when there's not a lot of effort and desire, that's when you worry."
The left-handed closer has continued his assault on his own clubhouse, however. Wagner became agitated after the Mets lost three of four to the last- place Washington Nationals, especially Thursday's conclusion of the four-game set that saw Carlos Delgado line into a double play, with Carlos Beltran getting picked off third to end the game.
Now, the lack of availability at the conclusion of games by New York's Latin players became an issue last year when then-catcher Paul Lo Duca offered out his disgust of how only a handful of players were dealing with the media after games.
Lo Duca's rant even had some racial undertones when he called out his Latin teammates by saying, "They speak English, believe me."
It's no surprise that Lo Duca is no longer a Met, but Wagner is and he has once again put a possible racial division in New York's dugout into the spotlight.
Said Wagner to reporters after Thursday's loss, "Can someone tell me why the (expletive) the closer's being interviewed when I didn't even play," Wagner told reporters.
Wagner then turned and pointed toward the opposite side of the room, in the direction of the locker of Delgado and Beltran.
"You should be talking to those guys over there," Wagner continued. "Oh, they're not there...big shock."
At that point Wagner walked away.
Should New York fall short of its goal of making the playoffs this year -- which would be a disappointment considering this club has the talent to win the National League East -- something will have to be done about the current roster.
Assuming he survives the entire 2008 season, manager Willie Randolph would likely be the first to go. After all, if there is a rift in the clubhouse, it is Randolph's job to try and fix it.
Perhaps if Wagner has his way, the likes of Beltran, Delgado and Jose Reyes could all be on the chopping block at season's end. However, New York might be able to repair its team with the jettison of one player. How about getting rid of Wagner?
While his current numbers don't warrant such action (he has eight saves and has yet to allow an earned run in 15 2/3 innings this year), Wagner has the uncanny ability to agitate both the opposing team and his own club as well. And while replacing a closer as capable as Wagner will be tough, one has to wonder how much the 36-year-old is actually worth to the Mets if he continues to insult his own teammates on a nightly basis.
Wagner is signed through 2009, but it is possible he might not last that long in the Big Apple.
INJURY UPDATES
Heading into play on Friday, the Mets are currently third in the NL East, 2 1/2 games behind first-place Florida. One player who could help them right the ship is Pedro Martinez.
Martinez, out since April 2 due to a left hamstring strain, threw a simulated game on Wednesday in Port St. Lucie. He threw 55 pitches over four innings, nailing 38 of them for strikes.
One encouraging sign was the fact he was able to field his position, meaning he could be returning sooner rather than later.
"When you're dealing with hamstrings," general manager Omar Minaya said on New York's official Web site, "all areas of movement are concerns."
The return of Martinez could bring some stability to New York's clubhouse.
RANDLOPH PICKED FOR NL STAFF
Colorado Rockies and National League All-Star manager Clint Hurdle named Randolph to the NL coaching staff on Friday.
The addition of Randolph to the staff will allow the former New York Yankee player and coach to man the pine at Yankee Stadium one last time. The current Yankee Stadium, where Randolph played from 1976-1988 and then spent time as a third base and bench coach from 1994-2004, is in its final year as home to the Yanks.
WHO IS HOT
Luis Castillo is hitting .412 (7-for-17) over his last five games with five runs scored, one double, one triple and four RBI over this span.
WHO IS NOT
Though he has a hit in each of his last eight games, Beltran is still batting just .246 on the season with three homers and 23 RBI.
UP NEXT
The Mets begin their annual Subway Series against the Yankees on Friday. Though both made a play for his services in the offseason, it is the Mets who will showcase Johan Santana (4-2, 3.10 ERA) in the opener against the Yankees' Darrell Rasner (2-0, 3.00).
Perez (3-3, 4.61) goes against Andy Pettitte (3-4, 4.40) on Saturday, while John Maine (5-2, 2.81) battles Chien-Ming Wang (6-1, 2.90) in Sunday night's finale.
Claudio Vargas (0-1, 2.84) and Mike Pelfrey (2-4, 4.17) will each pitch a game of Tuesday's doubleheader against Atlanta, with Santana and Perez also slated to throw.
